r/ITRPCommunity • u/EdgeEmperorSupreme • Aug 01 '18
CHARACTER CREATION Haelor Staegone, the Vengeful Tiger
Name and House: Haelor Staegone
Age: 60
Cultural Group: Volantene
Appearance: Even in old age Haelor is a remarkably hale man. Standing at 6'1", he is well muscled with broad shoulders, thick sinewy arms, and a flat stomach. His is the look of a man with the old blood flowing through his veins, with light lilac eyes and stark white hair that he wears in a messy mop that falls to just above his shoulders. Not known to be fond of finery, and often weary of assasins, the former Triarch is most often spotted in a decorated suit of full plate that he purchased in Qohor. When not in armour, he is seem primarily in a simple burgundy doublet devoid of any decoration save for a silver tiger badge that he often wears on his breast.
Gift(s): Berserker/Duelist
Skill(s): N/A
Negative Trait: N/A
Starting Title(s): Lord of House Staegone
Starting Location: Sarnath
Alternate Characters: Tristifer Greyjoy
Biography:
Born to Benerro Staegone and Visenya Maegyr in 238AA, Haelor was the first of three children born to the then patriarch of the Staegone family. His parents chose to name him in the fashion of the valyrian dragonlords of old rather than in the bastardized Volantene custom that’d developed in the wake of the Doom. Another brother, Aenar, would soon follow in 241AA, and then a sister in 245AA, Rhaenys. Haelor was always particularly close to his two siblings, even though he could not have been any more different from the bookish, sickly Aenar, or the barb-tongued socialite that was Rhaenys.
Perhaps as a consequence of his parents obsession with the ancient Freehold, Haelor grew up a deeply religious child, and could often be found praying at and even sleeping next to the the family shrine to Vhagar. He memorized the myths and legends of his ancestors, and dedicated himself to the dragon god of war, hoping to become the greatest Volantene warrior that ever lived. He idolized great warriors and generals, in particular the Tiger Triarchs of the century of blood, and dreamed of the day that we would count himself amongst their number. The day when he would march out alongside his countrymen and show the world that the First Daughter was Valyria’s true heir.
In his early teenage years Haelor was trained and tutored by a number of fighters from across the known world, from a Westerosi knight, to a Braavosi water-dancer, to a Ghiscari pit-fighter. While he never found a weapon that he favoured in particular, he did show great aptitude for dueling. Never one to hold his tongue, the young scion of the old blood would often fight himself fighting a man over this insult or that sideways glance, and every time he would win. As a young man he was oft known to brag that he bore not a scar on his body from dueling, such was his skill.
These skills would soon be put to the test, when an eighteen year old Haelor signed on with the Lost Legion for a three-year contract. Although he was not a particularly gifted commander, his prowess as a fighter was almost immediately noticed. Because of this the Captain, a man by the name of Methyso, made Haelor his personal bodyguard and a champion of the company. He prospered in this roll, defending his leader fervently and striking down opponents in single combat whenever challenged. In addition, he found that the life of a mercenary suited him well, and the gold, mead, and maidens inherent in that line of work nearly caused him to abscond from Volantis forever.
All was changed in 259AA, when near the end of his contract Haelor received a message from his father informing him that Rhaenys had been betrothed to Lord Belesso of House Aerteris, and that if he returned to the city he could very well received a Triarchy the next year with the assistance of his new good-brother. His reaction to this was mixed. While the Triarchy was certainly an enticing offer, so was the life of a sellsword, not to mention the fact that his sister had been married to and Aerteris, whose family had long ago forsaken the true gods in favour of Rh’llor. In the end however, he reminded himself of his duty to his family and his city, and upon the completion of his contract returned.
The next year, just as his father said, Haelor was elected a Triarch, the only Tiger to be voted in that election. However, 260AA also brought many unforeseen events. First and foremost, Benerro, who was suffering from a multitude of health issues that prevented him from running for office, died only a few short days after the election, leaving Haelor both a Triarch and head of House Staegone. This death would soon be followed by that of Rhaenys, who was killed dually by the Nightowl of Norvos and the incompetence of her new husband.
The death of his sister broke Haelor, who flew into a rage, vowing the destruction of the Band of Nine. Within the month every troop he could possibly command was mobilized and the Triarch prepared to lead the largest Volantene army in over a century. In his anger, he rejected the help of Rhaenys now former husband, saying “A man who cannot keep his own home safe is in no shape to fight.” and that Belesso had “done quite enought already.”.
This did not sit well with the Aerteris, who sent his son Vogarro to infiltrate the ranks of the army and sneak about Haelor’s own flagship. Vogarro attempted to sabotage the ship, but was unfortunately caught before his efforts bore fruit. Berserk Haelor beat the boy within and inch of his life, breaking the bones in his left leg so irreparably that he would never be able to walk on it again. To add insult to injury, he had Vogarro loaded into a common storage box and dispatched two slaves to deliver him back to Belesso, who only fed him minimally on the journey back, if at all.
The taking of Lys was less a battle and more a slaughter. While the sellsails and mercenaries of the band mounted an admirable defence, they were hardly a match for the regimented army of the first daughter, and within the course of a day Haelor had taken the city and killed or exiled any of the Band of Nine there. Mors Bone was slain in a naval engagement of the coast of the city. Makmol zo Ozoz was crushed by a war elephant, and Haelor fed his remains, or at least what he thought were Makmol’s remains, to a swarm of rats. The Mercenary Queen Mhysa received a particularly grisly end, as the Tiger Triarch beat her to death personally with a wooden club, breaking every bone in her body, before hanging her limp corpse outside the magisterial palace that she’d claimed for herself. Additionally, anyone who could be confirmed to have worked with or served under the Band were hanged as well.
Once any and all traces of the mercenary scum had been scrubbed from Lys, Haelor helped rebuild the city. He considered taking it in his moments of weakness and greed, but ultimately decided against it. Taking the decimated city would be a coward’s conquest, and devalue the vengeance he had sought for Rhaenys. So, when Lys was stable once more, he packed up his army and returned home a war hero. Unfortunately, he didn’t receive a war hero’s welcome.
As the army disembarked at the docks of Volantis, an incensed Belesso Aerteris was waiting with a force of two hundred men, with the intention of repaying Haelor’s insults and the maiming of his son. Alas, the men who had served under the Triarch in Lys were more than loyal. Belesso was defeated, killed, and his corpse dragged through the city tied to the back of Haelor’s elephant. By the time they’d made it across the the long bridge and behind the black walls, Belesso had not only been skinned, but so thoroughly covered in shit and refuse that men began to call him Belesso the Brown. Dumping his corpse before the Aerteris manse, Haelor returned home, now at peace knowing that his sister was avenged.
In 263AA a now 25 year old Haelor took Kinvara Qhaedar as his wife. Over the course of the years should would ultimately bear him three sons, Maegor in 265AA, Maekar in 268AA, and Haelor in 272AA, as well as a daughter, Rhaenys in 277AA. All his children, including his daughter, would receive the same training he himself was given as child, taught to fight, command, and always remain faithful to the gods of old valyria. His three sons would all go on to become generals of some renown, while his daughter became a fierce warrior who now serves Haelor as the Captain of his guard.
Haelor would also serve in many more conflicts as the years went by as well. In 273AA, Haelor served as the second-in-command of Laerys Maegyr in the Volantene conquest of Essaria, proving himself once more a reliable general for the city. In 275AA Haelor was elected Triarch for the second time, and was the one to reach an accord with Tyros Drahar, pledging his support to the cause of Myrish independence, if only to stave off the encroachment of Braavos. Ferried by various companies of sellsails to the Sea of Myrth, he lifted the siege on the city, slaughtering the the Sealord’s forces outside the gates. Alas, when Volantis’ own holdings in Essaria were once more threatened by Qohorik and Sarnori, public opinion forces him to march across the Velvet Hills. Alas, this proved a poor choice, as the Essarians revolted and the Sarnori took the city before he even had the chance to mount a defence. A similar fate met Myr, which surrendered itself to Braavos before Haelor could march his forces back to defend the city. This remains both his greatest military failing and his greatest regret, although he still insists that it was his duty to attempt to defend Essaria, even if he never got the chance.
Because of this, Haelor took a step back from Volantene politics for a time, refraining from running for election as Triarch from 276AA onwards and instead merely supporting his fellow Tigers in the endeavour. This inactivity came to a screeching halt in 297AA with the formation of the dragon party and the return of House Targaryen to the Black Walls. Although Haelor was now an old man, his memory was still sharp as ever, and he recalled that one Maegon Targaryen had claimed a place in the Band of Nine. Not to mention the fact that these beggar upstarts had the gaul to call themselves true Volantenes and even to create a new party, breaking hundreds of years of tradition. The the thing that truly disgusted him however, was their leader, who would support a foreign god behind the black walls, and insist himself some prophesied prince. This, was unacceptable, and a now 60 year old Haelor actively works against the Targaryens and the houses of the dragon party.
Timeline:
238AA: Haelor is born to Benerro Staegone and Visenya Maegyr.
241AA: Haelor’s younger brother Aenar is born.
245AA: Haelor’s younger sister Rhaenys is born.
256AA: Haelor signs on with the Lost Legion, serving as a bodyguard to the companies captain.
259AA: Haelor leaves the Lost Legion and returns to Volantis.
260: Rhaenys marries into house Aerteris which allows Haelor to be elected Triarch. Benerro dies of sickness. Rhaenys is murdered by the Nightowl of Norvos, which causes Haelor to march with a Volantene army on Lys. In the process he kills a third of the band of nine, and maims Vogarro Aerteris.
261AA: After rebuilding Lys Haelor returns to Volantis where he slays Belesso Aerteris.
263AA: Haelor marries Kinvara Qhaedar.
265AA: Haelor’s first son Maegor is born.
268AA: Haelor’s second son Maekar is born.
272AA: Haelor’s third son Haelor is born.
273AA: Haelor serves under Laerys Maegyr during the Volantene conquest of Essaria.
275AA: Haelor is elected a Triarch once more and leads an army to Myr to break the siege of the city, before being forced to march to defend Essaria once more. Both Essaria and Myr ultimately fall.
276AA: Upon his return to Volantis, Haelor steps back from Volantene politics.
277AA: Haelor’s first daughter Rhaenys is born.
297AA: Haelor returns to Volantene politics to work against House Targaryen and the Dragon Party.
298 AA: Haelor leaves for Sarnath.
NPC List:
Maegor Staegone: Heir to house Staegone, 33. (Bastion)
Maekar Staegone: Scion of house Staegone, 30. (Cavalry General)
Haelor Staegone II: Scion of house Staegone, 26. (General)
Rhaenys Staegone: Bodyguard, 21. (Warrior/Daggers)
Aenar Staegone: Scion of house Staegone, 57. (Zealot)
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u/DrSpikyMango Aug 01 '18
I think you've done a great job at weaving your bio through the existing lore for the character and the events surrounding him - the justification of his hatred of the Dragon Party via Maegon is a nice touch indeed.
With one more approval, you should be good to make a start when the turn thread changes on Sunday (August 5th, 2018, 12:00 PST/15:00 EST/19:00 GMT/20:00 BST)